Field customizable airflow system for a communications box

ABSTRACT

Field customizable airflow systems, and methods related to the same, are provided. A housing for an electronic display subassembly includes an intake and an exhaust for ambient air. A communications box located above the electronic display subassembly includes one or more electronic components, a convection aperture plate with one or more apertures, an intake portion, an exhaust portion, and one or more fans which cause a flow of ambient air to be accepted at the intake portion, circulated through each of the apertures in the convection aperture plate, and exhausted through the exhaust portion when activated.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application makes no priority claim.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Exemplary embodiments relate generally to a field customizable airflowsystem for a communications box and systems and methods related to thesame.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has become increasingly desirable to include certain electronicequipment with display assemblies featuring electronic displays. Suchelectronic equipment may include, for example, communications equipment,sensing equipment, combinations thereof, and the like. For example,advertising or announcements may be displayed at the electronic displaysand internet connectivity may be facilitated by the electronicequipment. Such electronic displays and electronic equipment may beprovided in ruggedized housings to protect the electronic displays andequipment from harsh environmental conditions. Sometimes, the electronicequipment is provided in a box above the electronic displays. Theelevated position of the box may facilitate signal propagation andreception. Other times, the box is provided at other locations withinthe ruggedized housing, such as behind one or more of the electronicdisplays or below the electronic displays.

The electronic equipment may be placed in various locations within thebox, and the various pieces of equipment may have different airflowneeds. For example, some such equipment may require airflow for coolingand/or proper operation. Lack of adequate airflow may result inequipment failure, improper operation, or undesirable consequences.Other such equipment may not require cooling and/or may not beconfigured to handle moisture, debris, or other material that might bepresent in the airflow. Furthermore, it may be desirable to change thetype, location, or the like of the electronic equipment in the box overtime. For example, equipment may be upgraded, equipment may be removed,new equipment may be developed or desired, communications protocols maychange (thus requiring new equipment), or the like. Therefore, what isneeded is a field customizable airflow system for a communications box.

A field customizable airflow system for a communications box isprovided. A display assembly may include one or more electronic displaysubassemblies and a communications box. The communications box mayinclude one or more electronic components, at least some of which mayhave different airflow requirements. One or more convection apertureplates may be provided within the communications box. Each of theconvection aperture plates may comprise one or more apertures. Theapertures may be provided adjacent to planned or actual locations of atleast certain ones of the electronic components to force air to pass byat least certain ones of the electronic components. In this way, areasof relatively high airflow and/or cooling and areas of relatively lowairflow and/or cooling may be engineered within the communications box.For example, the convection aperture plates may be utilized to create asingle airflow pathway, or multiple airflow pathways for air within thecommunications box as required by the various pieces of electronicequipment. The convection aperture plates may comprise any number, size,shape, location, or configuration of apertures to accommodate airflowneeds of the new and/or updated electronic components.

Such convection aperture plates may be provided in new displayassemblies, or retrofitted into existing display assemblies. In theevent that certain electronic equipment is added, removed, or changedfrom the communications box, such as due to failure, the need or desireto upgrade, the need or desire to add new equipment, combinationsthereof, or the like, the convection aperture plate(s) may be replaced,removed, or added as needed to provide appropriate airflow through thecommunications box to address the airflow needs of the electronicequipment.

Air in the communications box may comprise ingested ambient air. Inexemplary embodiments, the air ingested into the communications box maycomprise a portion of ambient air ingested into the display assembly atan intake, where a second portion of the ambient air ingested at theintake may travel into or along the electronic display subassemblies. Inother exemplary embodiments, the air in the communications box maycomprise circulating gas and thermal devices may be provided with thecommunications box to remove heat from the circulating gas.

Further features and advantages of the systems and methods disclosedherein, as well as the structure and operation of various aspects of thepresent disclosure, are described in detail below with reference to theaccompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of thepresent invention will be readily apparent from the followingdescriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein likereference numerals across the several views refer to identical orequivalent features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary display assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the display assembly of FIG. 1illustrating exemplary airflow;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of another exemplary displayassembly;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the display assembly of FIG. 3illustrating exemplary airflow;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the display assembly of FIG. 3illustrating other exemplary airflow;

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional view of an exemplary communications boxwith an exemplary convection aperture plate;

FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional view of the communications box of FIG. 6with another exemplary convection aperture plate;

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view of another exemplary communicationsbox with other exemplary airflow;

FIG. 9 is a top view of another exemplary convection aperture plate;

FIG. 10 is a top view of another exemplary convection aperture plate;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart with exemplary logic for installing theconvection aperture plates;

FIG. 12A is a sectional perspective view of another exemplarycommunications box with another exemplary convection aperture plate forexemplary electronic components;

FIG. 12B is a line drawing version of FIG. 12A;

FIG. 13A is a sectional perspective view of another exemplarycommunications box with another exemplary convection aperture plate forother exemplary electronic components;

FIG. 13B is a line drawing version of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14A a sectional perspective view of another exemplarycommunications box with another exemplary convection aperture plate forother exemplary electronic components; and

FIG. 14B is a line drawing version of FIG. 14A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingdescription, specific details such as detailed configuration andcomponents are merely provided to assist the overall understanding ofthese embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, it should beapparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications of the embodiments described herein can be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Inaddition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions areomitted for clarity and conciseness.

Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference toillustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) ofthe invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrationsas a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances,are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not beconstrued as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustratedherein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example,from manufacturing.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary display assembly 10. The assembly 10 maycomprise one or more housings 12. The assembly 10 may comprise one ormore electronic display subassemblies 14. For example, withoutlimitation, a first and second electronic display subassembly 14 may bepositioned in a back-to-back arrangement within the housing 12, thoughany number and location of such electronic display subassemblies 14 maybe utilized. The housing 12 may comprise a frame and/or a full orpartial enclosure for each of the electronic display subassemblies 14.The electronic display subassemblies 14 may be moveably mounted to saidhousing 12.

Each electronic display subassemblies 14 may comprise an electronicdisplay layer, a backlight, one or more airflow pathways, electroniccomponents (e.g., processors, electronic storage devices, timing andcontrol boards, video players, combinations thereof, or the like), oneor more optical films, diffusion layers, fans, combinations thereof, orthe like. The electronic display subassemblies 14 may comprise of anytype of electronic display including, but not limited to, LCD displays,LED displays, plasma displays, OLED displays, or the like. Suchelectronic displays may be directly backlit, edge lit, combinationsthereof, or the like.

A communications box 16 may be provided above the electronic displaysubassemblies 14, though other locations for the communications box 16may be utilized. More than one communications box 16 may be utilized.For example, without limitation, the communications box 16 mayalternatively or additionally be positioned behind or between one ormore of the electronic display subassemblies 14, below the electronicdisplay subassemblies 14, combinations thereof, or the like. Inexemplary embodiments, the communications box 16 comprises materialsconfigured to permit the transmission and/or receipt of electronicsignals, such as, but not limited to, radio waves, Wi-Fi, near fieldcommunication, cellular networks signals, combinations thereof, and thelike. At least a portion of the communications box 16 may be formed bythe housing 12, though the communications box 16 may comprise a separatehousing. The communications box 16 may be located immediately adjacentto the housing 12 or may be elevated above the housing 12, for examplewithout limitation. The communications box 16 may define a cuboid shape,though any shape may be utilized.

One or more intakes 18 may be located at the housing 12. One or moreexhausts 30 may be located at the housing 12. In exemplary embodiments,an intake 18 is located above each of the electronic displaysubassemblies 14 and an exhaust 30 is located below each of theelectronic display subassemblies 14, though any location and number ofthe intakes 18 and exhausts 30 may be utilized. The intakes 18 may beconfigured to ingest ambient air while the exhausts 30 may be configuredto exhaust ambient air. Airflow pathways may be provided within thehousing 12 between the intakes 18 and the exhausts 30. Such airflowpathways may extend within, or along, the electronic displaysubassemblies 14.

The communications box 16 may comprise one or more vents 28 forexhausting ambient air. In exemplary embodiments, the vent 28 is locatedalong an upper surface of the communications box 16, though any numberand locations of vents 28 may be utilized. The vent 28 may be configuredto exhaust at least a portion of the ambient air ingested at the intakes18. Airflow pathways may extend from the intakes 18 to the vents 28.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed sectional view of the communications box16. One or more electronic components 24 may be located within thecommunications box 16. Such electronic components 24 may include, butare not limited to, Wi-Fi devices, network communication devices,internet modems, cellular network devices, near field communicationdevices, antenna, radio transmitters, radio receivers, satellitecommunications equipment, combinations thereof, or other communicationsequipment. Such electronic components 24 may alternatively oradditionally include, but are not limited to, airflow velocity sensors,airflow rate sensors, moisture sensors, air quality or compositionsensors (e.g., for detecting pollutants, toxins, certain chemicals orother substances, combinations thereof, or the like), temperaturesensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, accelerometers,magnetometers, altimeters, incline sensors, microphones, ambient lightsensors, cameras, combinations thereof, or other sensors. Suchelectronic components 24 may alternatively or additionally include, butare not limited to, computerized devices, electronic storage devices,processers, servers, video players, timing and control boards, speakers,amplifiers, cameras, microphones, location detection devices, GPSdevices, air quality sensors, combinations thereof, or other equipmentfor operating the display assemblies 10 or gathering information. Anynumber, kind, or type of electronic components 24 may be utilized in anycombination. The same or different electronic components 24 may be usedacross different display assemblies 10. Each of the electroniccomponents 24 may have the same or different airflow needs for properand/or optimal operation, such as, but not limited to, for detectingcharacteristics of ambient air, longevity, and/or cooling. For example,without limitation, certain sensors may require relatively low airvelocity to properly function, while certain communication devices mayrequire relatively high air velocity to adequately remove heat. As yetanother example, certain electronic devices may not be configured tohandle moisture, debris, pollutants, and/or temperatures of certainairflow, such as, but not limited to, ambient air, while othercomponents may be so configured.

A convection aperture plate 26 may be provided within the communicationsbox 16. The convection aperture plate 26 may comprise one or moreapertures 27 positioned to direct airflow to all or some of theelectronic components 24. The apertures 27 may be of the same, orvarying size and shape and may be provided in any arrangement ofconfiguration. Any number of apertures 27 may be provided in any size,shape, or the like.

Each of the electronic components 24 may have varying airflow needs. Theconvection aperture plate 26 may be designed with apertures 27 at selectlocations to accommodate such airflow needs. Furthermore, it may bedesirable to change out various electronic components 24. For example,without limitation, different customers or users may desire differentelectronic components 24. As another example, without limitation, theelectronic components 24 may be changed or upgraded over time to provideimproved performance, integrate with other networks, operate under newprotocols, or the like. The convection aperture plates 26 providedacross various assemblies 10 may be of the same or different design toaccommodate different types and/or arrangement of electronic equipment24. Alternatively, or additionally, the convection aperture plate(s) 26provided in a particular assembly 10 may be changed out or otherwisealtered to reflect changing airflow requirements, such as when newequipment 24 is added, existing equipment 24 is removed, equipment 24 isrearranged, or equipment 24 is upgraded, any combination thereof, or thelike.

The convection aperture plate 26 may be configured to have a footprintmatching interior dimensions of the communications box 16. Theconvection aperture plate 26 may be substantially planar and create abarrier within the communications box 16 such that air must travelthrough the apertures 27 to be exhausted through the vent 28. Theconvection aperture plate 26 may define a footprint substantiallymatching a footprint of the communications box 16.

In exemplary embodiments, the convection aperture plate 26 may beconfigured to provide apertures 27 adjacent to the planned or actuallocation of certain electronic equipment 24 in the communications box16, but not other such electronic equipment 24 in the communications box16. The convection aperture plate 26 may form a barrier within thecommunications box 16 where said apertures 27 facilitate airflow toparticular locations within the communications box 16 while preventingor impeding airflow to other locations within the communications box 16.For example, without limitation, apertures 27 of particular size orshape may be placed adjacent to the actual or planned location ofcertain ones of the electronic components 24 requiring airflow. Thesize, shape, and locations of the apertures 27 may be provided tofacilitate airflow to the adjacent electronic components 24 to meet suchairflow needs. Other electronic components 24 may not require airflow,and/or it may not operate optimally under forced airflow conditions. Nosuch apertures 27 may be provided at the convection aperture plate 26near actual or planned locations of electronic components 24 notrequiring airflow and/or requiring other airflow conditions. Forexample, without limitation, the convection aperture plate 26 maycomprise a solid material or otherwise be fluidly sealed at suchlocations to prevent or impede airflow to such equipment 24.

Ambient air 20 may be ingested into the assembly 10. In exemplaryembodiments, a first flow of ambient air 20 may be ingested at a firstintake 18 a and a second flow of ambient air 20 may be ingested at asecond intake 18 b. A first portion of the first flow and a firstportion of the second flow of the ingested ambient air 20 may travelinto the communications box 16. A second portion of the first flow and asecond portion of the second flow of the ambient air 20 may travel alongor into the first and second electronic display subassemblies 14 a, 14b, respectively. The first portion and the second portion may travelthrough one or more of the apertures 27 in the convection aperture plate26. The ambient air 20 may circulate within some or all of thecommunications box 16. The ambient air 20 may exit the communicationsbox 16 by way of the vent 28.

FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary display assembly 10. FIG. 4illustrates an exemplary airflow configuration for a display assembly 10having a single electronic display subassembly 14. FIG. 5 illustrates anexemplary airflow configuration for a display assembly 10 havingmultiple electronic display subassemblies 14. Any number of electronicdisplay subassemblies 14 with any size or shape housing 12 may beutilized.

One or more fans 40 may be provided within the communications box 16 toforce the flow of ambient air 20 through the convection aperture plate26 and the communications box 16 when activated. While illustrated asbeing proximate to the vent 28, one or more such fans 40 mayalternatively or additionally be located proximate to the intakes 18 orelsewhere within or adjacent to the communications box 16. The fan(s) 40may be of the same or different type and may comprise, for example,without limitation, axial fans, centrifugal fans, or the like. The fans40 may comprise axial fans, centrifugal fans, combinations thereof, orthe like.

Other fans 40 may be provided at various locations within the assembly10, such as to force ambient air 20 along or through the electronicdisplay assemblies 14, the housing 12, or other locations within theassembly 10. The display assemblies 10 may utilize one or more open loopairflow pathways, one or more closed loop airflow pathways, combinationsthereof, or the like.

In exemplary embodiments, at least one of the electronic components 24may comprise a sensor, and readings from the sensor may be used toadjust operations of the fan(s) 40. For example, without limitation, theelectronic components 24 may comprise a temperature sensor, and fan 40speed may be increased and/or additional fans 40 may be activated astemperatures rise (e.g., during daytime hours and/or during warmer days)and fan 40 speed may be decreased and/or fans 40 may be deactivated astemperatures fall (e.g., during nighttime hours and/or cooler days).

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary communications box 16. In theillustrated embodiment, which is provided, for example, but withoutlimitation, ambient air 20 may be ingested into the communications box16 by way of an intake portion 32. The ingested ambient air 20 may bedirected through at least one aperture 27 a proximate a first set ofelectronic equipment 24 a. For example, without limitation, the firstset of electronic equipment 24 a may comprise communication deviceswhich require substantial cooling. The airflow 20 may be directed awayfrom a second set of electronic equipment 24 b due to a lack ofapertures 27 in the convection aperture plate 26 proximate to the secondset of electronic equipment 24 b. For example, without limitation, thesecond set of electronic equipment 24 b may comprise sensing deviceswhich require minimal to no airflow.

The communications box 16 may comprise an intake portion 32. Thecommunications box 16 may comprise a vent 28. The intake portion 32 mayextend along some or all of a lower surface of the communications box16, though other locations may be utilized. The intake portion 32 may beconfigured to receive some or all of the ambient air 20 ingested throughthe intakes 18. The vent 28 may extend along some or all of an uppersurface of the communications box 16, though other locations may beutilized. The vent 28 may be configured to exhaust some or all of theambient air received within the communications box 16. An air inletplenum 34 may be formed between the intake portion 32 and the convectionaperture plate 26. An equipment cavity 36 may be formed between theconvection aperture plate 26 and a mounting surface 42 for the fan(s)40. The electronic equipment 24 may be secured within the equipmentcavity 36. An air outlet plenum 38 may be provided between the mountingsurface 42 and the vent 28. In other exemplary embodiments, the intakeportion 32 and/or the mounting surface 40 are not required or are ofvarying size and shape.

FIG. 7 illustrates the communications box 16 with another exemplaryconvection aperture plate 26. The convection aperture plate 26 maycomprise at least a first aperture 27 a proximate one or more firstitems of equipment 24 a and a second aperture 27 b proximate to one ormore second items of equipment 24 b. In this way, a portion of theambient air 20 entering the communications box 16 may be directed to thefirst set of equipment 24 a and a second portion of the ambient air 20may be directed to the second set of equipment 24 b. For example,without limitation, both the first and second sets of equipment 24 a, 24b may require cooling for operation.

FIG. 8 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the communicationsbox 16. The communications box 16 may be wholly or partially sealed suchthat circulating gas 44 flows within the communications box 16. One ormore convection aperture plates 26 a, 26 b may be located with thecommunications box 16. One or more thermal management devices 46 may belocated within, or be in fluid communication with, the communicationsbox 16. The thermal management devices 46 may include, for example,without limitation, heat exchangers, thermoelectric cooling devices,heat sinks, some combination thereof, or the like. One or more fans 40may be provided to circulate the circulating gas 44 within thecommunications box 16. Heat may be removed from, or imparted to, thecirculating gas 44 by the thermal management devices 46.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrate exemplary convection aperture plates 26.One or more apertures 27 may be provided about the convection apertureplate 26. The apertures 27 may be of the same or different size andshape. Any number of apertures 27 may be provided in any arrangement.The apertures 27 may be placed proximate to certain electroniccomponents 24 of the communications box 16, though such is not required.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the convection apertureplate 26 may be utilized, alternatively or additionally, at locationswithin the assembly 10 other than the communications box 16. Forexample, without limitation, the convection aperture plate 26 may beutilized between electronic display subassemblies 14, below theelectronic display subassemblies 14, combinations thereof, or the like.

Multiple convection aperture plates 26 may be used within thecommunications box 16 and/or the display assembly 10. Such convectionaperture plates 26 may be of the same or different type. For example,without limitation, a convection aperture plate 26 may be used in placeof one or more of the mounting surface 42, the vent 28, and/or theintake portion 32. As another example, without limitation, a firstconvection aperture plate 26 may be used in the communications box 16and a second convection aperture plate 26 may be utilized between theelectronic display subassemblies 14.

FIG. 11 illustrates steps for fitting a communications box 16 with aconvection aperture plate 26. The communication box 16 may beretrofitted with one or more convection aperture plates 26. Suchretrofitting may be performed to improve airflow for existing electroniccomponents 24 and/or to optimize airflow for new electronic components24 previously installed, concurrently installed, or to be installed inthe future. Alternatively, or additionally, existing convection apertureplates 26 may be removed from communications boxes 16 and replaced withconvection aperture plates 26, which may be configured to optimizeairflow for new electronic equipment 24 previously installed at,concurrently installed at, or to be installed at, the communications box16. Design and placement of apertures 27 in the convection apertureplates 26 may be accomplished using various manual or computerized flowanalysis techniques.

The convection aperture plates 26 may be integrally formed with, welded,soldered, brazed, bonded, adhered, some combination thereof, or the liketo the communications box 16. The convection aperture plates 26 may becut out and replaced as needed. In other exemplary embodiments, theconvection aperture plates 26 may be configured for faster removal, suchas by way of fasteners, snap fittings, pressure fittings, friction fit,combinations thereof, or the like.

FIG. 12A through FIG. 14B illustrate other exemplary communicationsboxes 16. Each communications box 16 may, in exemplary embodiments,comprise one or more access panels 29. Each of the access panels 29 maybe connected to a frame 31 in a moveable manner, such as, but notlimited to, by way of one or more hinging devices 33. A gap 35 may beprovided along some or all of a perimeter of the access panel 29 betweenthe access panel 29 and the frame 31. For example, without limitation,the gap 35 may be located between a bottom portion of the access panel29 and the adjacent portion of the frame 31. The gap 35 may serve as avent 28 for exhausting ambient air. Where more than one access panel 29is provided, more than one gap 35 may be provided. In exemplaryembodiments, a first and second access panel 29 is provided on opposingsides of said frame 31.

The frame 31 may be connected to housing 12. Alternatively, oradditionally, the frame 31 may form at least a portion of the housing12. The frame 31 and/or the housing 12 may comprise multiple components.One or more openings 37 may be provided at the communications box 16 foringesting and/or exhausting ambient air to or from the communicationsbox 16. The openings 37 may be positioned adjacent to each of the fans40.

The fans 40 may be configured to pull air through the gap 35 and throughthe apertures 27 in the convection aperture plate 26 before beingexhausted from the communications box 16, such as by way of the openings37. In other exemplary embodiments, the fans 40 may be configured toingest air, such as by way of the openings 37, which is pushed throughthe apertures 27 in the convection aperture plate 26 before beingexhausted from the communications box 16 by way of the gap 35. In suchembodiments, the airflow for the communications box 16 may be fluidlyseparated from the airflow for the electronic display subassemblies 14.

In exemplary embodiments, the fans 40 and/or the electronic components24 may be mounted to the convection aperture plate 26. In suchembodiments, a separate mounting surface 42 may not be required.Alternatively, or additionally, the fans 40 may be mounted to a portionof the frame 31 and/or the access panels 29. The electronic components24 may, alternatively or additionally, be mounted to the access panels29.

One or more convection aperture plates 26 may be provided at variouslocations within the communications box 16 and/or elsewhere within thedisplay assembly 10. For example, without limitation, the convectionaperture plate 26 may be located upstream and/or downstream ofelectronic equipment 24 within the communications box 16. The locationof the convection aperture plate 26 may be changed when new suchelectronic equipment 24 is installed or relocated within thecommunications box 16 or elsewhere within the display assembly 10.

Apertures 27 may be provided at the convection aperture plate 26adjacent to certain electronic components 24, but not others. Solidmaterial and/or different size, shape, and/or type of apertures 27 maybe provided at the convection aperture plate 26 adjacent to othercertain electronic components 24. The convection aperture plate 26 maybe placed upstream, downstream, or otherwise of the electroniccomponents 24 relative to the openings 37.

Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the featuresof the other embodiments of the present invention. The exemplaryembodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or tounnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The exemplaryembodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principlesof the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practicethe invention. Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, those skilled in the art will realize that manyvariations and modifications may be made to the described invention.Many of those variations and modifications will provide the same resultand fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is theintention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by thescope of the claims.

Certain operations described herein may be performed by one or moreelectronic devices. Each electronic device may comprise one or moreprocessors, electronic storage devices, executable softwareinstructions, and the like configured to perform the operationsdescribed herein. The electronic devices may be general purposecomputers or specialized computing devices. The electronic devices maycomprise personal computers, smartphones, tablets, databases, servers,or the like. The electronic connections and transmissions describedherein may be accomplished by wired or wireless means. The computerizedhardware, software, components, systems, steps, methods, and/orprocesses described herein may serve to improve the speed of thecomputerized hardware, software, systems, steps, methods, and/orprocesses described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A field customizable airflow system comprising:an electronic display subassembly; a housing for said electronic displaysubassembly, said housing comprising an intake for ingesting ambient airand an exhaust for exhausting ambient air; and a communications boxlocated above said electronic display subassembly and comprising: aframe; an access panel moveably connected to said frame; one or moreelectronic components; a convection aperture plate comprising one ormore apertures; an intake portion for accepting ambient air that isspaced apart from said intake; an exhaust portion for exhausting ambientair comprising a gap between an access panel and a frame for thecommunications box; and one or more fans configured to, when activated,cause a flow of ambient air to be accepted at said intake portion,forced through each of said one or more apertures in said convectionaperture plate, and exhausted through said exhaust portion.
 2. The fieldcustomizable airflow system of claim 1 wherein: a first one of said oneor more apertures is located adjacent to a first one of said one or moreelectronic components.
 3. The field customizable airflow system of claim2 wherein: said first one of said one or more electronic componentscomprises communications equipment.
 4. The field customizable airflowsystem of claim 3 wherein: a second one of said one or more electroniccomponents comprises a sensor; and said convection aperture platecomprises an uninterrupted solid surface adjacent to said second one ofsaid one or more electronic components.
 5. The field customizableairflow system of claim 2 wherein: said first one of said one or moreapertures comprises a first size and shape; and a second one of said oneor more apertures is located adjacent to a second one of said one ormore electronic components and comprises a second size and shape.
 6. Thefield customizable airflow system of claim 1 wherein: said intakeportion is in fluid communication with said intake.
 7. The fieldcustomizable airflow system of claim 1 wherein: said intake portioncomprises an aperture in an upper surface of said frame.
 8. The fieldcustomizable airflow system of claim 1 further comprising: a secondelectronic display subassembly positioned back-to-back with saidelectronic display subassembly.
 9. The field customizable airflow systemof claim 1 wherein: said electronic display subassembly comprises: anelectronic display layer comprising liquid crystals; and a backlightcomprising a number of light emitting diodes mounted to a substratebehind said electronic display layer.
 10. The field customizable airflowsystem of claim 1 wherein: said fan comprises a centrifugal fan.
 11. Thefield customizable airflow system of claim 1 wherein: said convectionaperture plate is configured to create a barrier within saidcommunications box such that airflow is forced to travel through saidone or more apertures.
 12. The field customizable airflow system ofclaim 11 wherein: an interior of said communications box defines a firstfootprint; and said convection aperture plate defines a second footprintmatching the first footprint.
 13. The field customizable airflow systemof claim 1 wherein: a first one of said one or more apertures defines afirst shape; and a second one of said one or more apertures defines asecond shape which is different from said first shape.
 14. The fieldcustomizable airflow system of claim 1 wherein: said communications boxdefines a cuboid shape.
 15. A field customizable airflow systemcomprising: a frame; one or more electronic display subassembliesmounted to said frame, each comprising an airflow pathway for ambientair; and a communications box attached to said frame at a location aboveeach of said one or more electronic display subassemblies, saidcommunications box comprising: an access panel moveably mounted to saidframe; a first electronic component having a first airflow requirement;a second electronic component different from said first electroniccomponent and having a second airflow requirement; a convection apertureplate configured to create a barrier within said communications box andcomprising an aperture located adjacent to said first electroniccomponent and a solid surface adjacent to said second electroniccomponent; an intake portion; a gap located between at least a portionof a perimeter of said access panel and said frame; and one or more fansconfigured to force, when activated, a flow of said ambient air throughsaid ingestion portion, said aperture in said convection aperture plate,and said gap.